lindsa Reviews

Samoan Wedding (2006)

Hilarious

[10/10 · 31 March 2006]

A brilliant combination of good jokes, clever sight gags and neat characters.

OK, it's a bit contrived in parts and you can pretty much guess the story and its outcomes after seeing the trailer, but it does handle things differently enough to be very rewarding. Fun, funny and surprisingly well acted.

Oscar Kightley and the rest of the Naked Samoan group play with racial stereotypes in their usual harmlessly funny way. They make the point without shoving it down your throat. The humour is not your typical Hollywood style; which gives the whole production a certain freshness.

The only thing that lets the film down a little is the director's choice to do sequences of still frame shots (in music video style). It really doesn't have any impact other than to become annoying. Fortunately, it doesn't get out of control.

On the whole, though, it was a fantastic film. I can't wait to see it again.

Whale Rider (2002)

Very well done

[10/10 · 18 July 2003]

I first saw this film and was enraptured by its simple brilliance. I wondered whether I had fallen for a cinematic con, so went a second time only to discover I enjoyed it just as much. A great film for anyone who thinks a movie should have more depth than a puddle, and a storyline uncompromised by gunfire, genetically engineered superheroes, less than 93% CGI content or every stuntman Hollywood could find.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

simply brilliant

[10/10 · 19 December 2002]

If you're making an epic, you might as well make it properly. Thank God Peter Jackson is a master of his craft. Years ago I persevered through two-and-a-half of the three books, bored to tears... I never envisaged the magic that could be drawn from Tolkein's dry bones of tomes. I have been a fan of Jackson's since Bad Taste and remain awe-struck at his every outing. Don't judge him for who he is, don't judge him for his principles, judge him purely for the cinematic genius that he is.

Jubilee (2000)

Unnervingly accurate look at small-town New Zealand.

[8/10 · 15 April 2000]

When the chairwoman of the Waimatua school jubilee committee unexpectedly falls victim to a farm accident, local man Billy Williams finds himself in an unusual position of responsibility.

It's fair to say the upcoming 75th jubilee is taking its toll not just on Billy and the close-knit community, but on Billy's wife, Pauline -- who goes through her own personal crisis.

The humour covers several bases, from wry comment to outright slapstick, and the cultural references are dead-on, though the characters are borderline stereotype. Sometimes, though, this film is so close to the mark it's scary.

Scarfies (1999)

Good for a laugh

[9/10 · 15 April 2000]

A uniquely New Zealand film that can be enjoyed by all. Director Robert Sarkies (who co-wrote the film with his brother Duncan) takes the audience through a cross-section of Dunedin student life. Often funny, but with solid dramatic elements (perhaps suited more to the stage), the film looks at some serious issues and then has a bit of fun with them. Shot on a shoestring budget, yet Sarkies manages to include some wicked cinematography. The frequent humour is best suited to New Zealanders, but they laughed in the right places at Cannes. Don't take it too seriously and you'll appreciate it best.